﻿Students in Dr.
Carrigan's WOH 2040 course consider current events within historical context.
The purpose of our project is to create a more informed citizenry. Freedom of
speech and the press provide the foundation of a democratic society.
Sovereignty rests with the people, but that sovereignty will disappear if the
people do not exercise informed consent. ﻿﻿﻿

The Current Events in Historical Context project partners with the Center for
Media Studies and Journalism and IRSC librarians to bring the learning that
occurs on campus to the world outside of academia. IRSC librarians inform
students of the resources available, the best researching practices, and the
latest in emerging technologies to help students create polished articles,
videos, and podcasts. The best projects are subsequently featured on the Center
for Media Studies and Journalism's website.

The Current Events in Historical Context project is part of a larger project on
Rebuilding the Knowledge Commons. Dr. Bruce Fraser, founder of CMSJ, has analyzed the concept of a
Knowledge Commons, the shared information that allows us all to communicate
efficiently and effectively. He argues that a breakdown of the Knowledge
Commons is occurring because of the growth of the amount of information
available. To combat this fading Knowledge Commons, faculty and students need
to partner with the public. The learning that occurs on campuses should be used
to benefit society by helping to filter, organize, and analyze this
ever-growing mound of information. The
featured short articles, videos, and podcasts will contribute to the
Knowledge Commons by helping the public make sense of what is happening in the
world today.

﻿Click
on the button below to see Rebuilding the Knowledge Commons projects
and to read Dr. Fraser's piece on Rebuilding the Knowledge Commons.